Miniature simulated baseball game

ABSTRACT

A miniature simulated baseball game including a board having a configuration of a baseball field thereon and a series of switches. Four switches are located at the pitcher position, four at the batter position and lights are located at the base positions. Two players compete, one as pitcher and one as batter, operating their respective switches. The respective switches are arranged in pairs in an electrical circuit in such manner that when the proper pair is actuated a light is lit to indicate a matched pair. The batter can then spin a pointer properly marked to indicate various base hits, etc.

O Umted States Patent l 13,565,431

[72] Inventor George R. Senter 1,888,537 11/1932 Mayorga 273/88 8807 Helke Road, Vandalia, Ohio 45377 2,495,620 1/1950 Werle et a1. 273/88 [21] Appl. No. 744,549 2,994,531 8/1961 Eberwein 273/l(E) [22] Filed July 12,1968 3,046,015 7/1962 Schuh et al. 273/94 [45] Patented 1971 Primary Examiner-Anton O. Oechsle Assistant Exam-iner-- Paul E. Shapiro Attorney-Milton E. Gilbert [54] MINIATURE SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME 1 Claim 3 Drawing Fig.5? ABSTRACT: A miniature simulated baseball game including a LS. board having a configuration ofa baseball thereon and a [51] 'l 56377706 series of switches. Four switches are located at the pitcher [50] Field of Search 273/88, 93, position f at the batter position and lights are located at 93 the base positions. Two players compete, one as pitcher and one as batter, o eratin their res ective switches. The res ec- [56] References cued live switches at: arran ged in pairs in an electrical circuit in UNITED STATES PATENTS such manner that when the proper pair is actuated a light is lit 1,502,619 7/ 1924 Doob 273/93 to indicate a matched pair. The batter can then spin a pointer 1,672,478 6/1928 Wible 273/93(C) properly marked to indicate various base hits, etc.

19 ail/me "'1 i i 1 PATENTED m2 3 197! Em \J 5 S S S INVENTOR.

FIG. 3

GEORGE R. SENTER WXW HIS ATTORNEY MINIATURE SIMULATED BASEBALL GAME SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The game of the invention is intended for two players, although two teams can compete if desired. A board is provided on which a configuration of a baseball field and a series of switches are mounted. An electrical circuit connects the switches with lights located at thebases. Four switches are located for the player posing as the pitcher, and four switches are located for the player posing as the batter. The pitcherplayer turns on only one switch and the batter-player operates one of his switches, attempting to match the one set by the pitcher-player. if the batter-player throws the right switch, the circuit will be completed, indicating that he now can proceed to spin a pointer to determine whether he gets a hit, walk, etc. Operating the wrong switch indicates a-missed swing or a strike, since no match is made. A match'can be indicated by another lamp that is lit only when a proper switch pair is actuated. The game proceeds on an analogous basis to regular baseball. The items marked on the 'spiri dial are equivalent to the various events that can occur in agame. The circuit basically constitutes a number of lamps mounted in parallel with a source of power (a battery), with the switches arranged in pairs in parallel circuits, one switch of each pair forming the battery of switches available to one player and the other set of switches being available to one player. A single lamp can be lit by any one of the switch pairs, provided both switches of the pair are engaged. Another set of switches are arranged to light lamps at each base to indicate the presence of a player on that base. These are used to keep track of the play as it proceeds. Various rules can be used to determine how players advance, etc.

Prior devices havev also employed electrical circuits in a simulated baseball game, however they have generally been.

more complicated, involving movable actuators to select hits, etc. Also, much simpler devices have simply used a spinner, with no introduction of further elements of chance. The device of the invention therefore (presents the maximum element of chance in the simplest circuitry and uncomplicated operating procedure so thatflallages can enjoy the game without difficulty. VIEWS OF THE o Awmo FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of oneembodimentof the miniature simulated game board of the invention; I FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. h n

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of the electrical circuit of the invention. x

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS For purposes of illustration, a specif c embodiment is shown in the drawings as being a typical application of the principles of the invention, it being realized that suchare not to be considered as limiting the scope of the invention inany manner. Thus, for example, the switches {can be located under the board or at the side, and the boarditself can be made very fancy to duplicate any of the baseball parks. The drawing therefore shows the simplest arrangement of elements for pur-v poses of illustration. 1

The game 1 comprises a board 2, which has a backboard 3 appropriately illustrated to-show bleachers, etc. An indicator 4 may be provided, if desired, to show outs and innings. Runs and hits, as well as strikes, may be shown on the backboard 3.

The diamond 10 has the pitchers mound 12, home plate 14 and first 16, second 18, and third 20, bases. At the bases, a light bulb may be located. A spinner 22 may be provided either affixed to the board or as a separate item, with appropriate indicia to indicate the type of hit or out, or any other baseball play.

The switches 8,, 8,, S, and S, are located next to the batters position and the switches S,, S, S, and S, are located at the ack of the board as shown in roken-away cross section m FIG. 1, and behind the bleachers 3 as clearly shown in FIG. 2. In any event the pitcher-player switches themselves must be hidden from the other batter-player so that he does not know what switch is thrown by the pitcher-player at any one time.

With reference to FIG. 3 it can be seen how the game progresses. The circuit shown arranges a series of switches S S S 8,, 8,, 8,0 and 8,1 in series connection with the battery B. Parallel circuits are provided for switches S S S and S, to be in parallel with the switches 5,, S,,.S and 5,, respectively. The first set of switches S, through 8,, are located at the pitchers position, while the second set of switches S, through S are located at the batters position. If the pitcher-player depresses the switch S, and thereafter the batter-player depresses switch S, a circuit is made to the lamp L,, which lights up to tell the batter that he can now spin the spinner 22 and find out what play he has made. If no switch is made then a strike is charged against the batter. After three misses or strikes the player is out," and after three outs" the opposing player takes his turn.

If a one-base hit is made, then the switch S, can be operated to light the lamp L,, which is located at the first base position 16. If men are on first and second then the lamps L and L, are lit, etc.

' The power source B can be made up of a single battery or a series of small batteries, as is common in the small game field. Noshock hazard is thus presented, and the game can readily be played by a child.

The game of the invention maintains a degree of interest of the players since after the pitcher-player throws one of his battery of switches, the batter-player must guess which pitch or switch has been'thrown. He in turn throws one of his switches to try to match the pitchers switch. The second element of chance is the spinner which permitsthe batter-player to either get a hit or an out.

v Anyset of rules of play can be devised, and none is set forth herein since such matters are not specifically related to any particular structure of the game of the invention.

- Iclaim:

l. A miniature simulated baseball game including a board depicting a baseball field and baseball diamond and having associated therewith a first series of switches and a second series of switches, said first series of switches being related to a pitcher-player position and said second series of switches being related to a batter-player position, said two series of switches being hidden from sight of one another; an electrical circuit including a lamp, the switches of said first series being arranged in electrically parallel pairs with switches of said second series and in series with said lamp, whereby only one preselected switch from each series when actuated will comprise one of said parallel pairs and will complete a circuit through said lamp; a spinning pointer means; additional lamps located at each base on the baseball diamond; and a third series of switches arranged to individually operate said additional lamps. 

1. A miniature simulated baseball game including a board depicting a baseball field and baseball diamond and having associated therewith a first series of switches and a second series of switches, said first series of switches being related to a pitcher-player position and said second series of switches being related to a batter-player position, said two series of switches being hidden from sight of one another; an electrical circuit including a lamp, the switches of said first series being arranged in electrically parallel pairs with switches of said second series and in series with said lamp, whereby only one preselected Switch from each series when actuated will comprise one of said parallel pairs and will complete a circuit through said lamp; a spinning pointer means; additional lamps located at each base on the baseball diamond; and a third series of switches arranged to individually operate said additional lamps. 